Poetry Analysis

 TPCASTT is a process to help you organize your analysis of poetry – any poem.  You can also use the SIFT analysis, although TPCASTT is a bit more thorough for poetry. You could also use TPCASTT for a story/novel (with some modification). They are both tools for you to use as needed!

 Analyze the title first  What do you predict this poem will be about?  Write down your predictions  We will reflect on the title again after we have read the poem.  The next step is often omitted, but it is the most important…

READ THE POEM

 Remember that paraphrasing is putting something into your own words  After reading the poem, rewrite it in your own words  This may be three sentences or a page – it all depends on the particular poem  Don’t spend a lot of time on this if in a test situation.

 Remember that connotation is the feeling or emotion that we get from the words we read  Include in the “C” an analysis of the figures of speech and sound effects of the poem – Simile Metaphor Symbol Onomatopoeia Denotation/Connotation Assonance Consonance Hyperbole Tone Personification Alliteration Imagery Plus – many more you can use

 Attitude is just like Tone – which is the attitude of the speaker/writer toward the subject of the poem  How does the writer feel about the subject?  Happy  Sad  Excited  Depressed  Confused  Angry  Etc…

 If there is a change in:  Time  Tone  Speaker This should always be noted, as this will also affect the meaning of the poem

 At this time, reconsider the title:  Were you right in your predictions?  What other meanings might the title have in light of your analysis?

 You already know what theme is – the general insight into life conveyed by the author through his or her work. It’s the big idea of the piece, that we can apply to our own lives.  Remember that one word does not create a theme – Love, Sadness, Peace, etc…  Write as a theme statement – a sentence that states an idea that is true to life and the human condition.

 With your TPCASTT completed you can provide an analysis of the poem. This may take the form of a paragraph, a discussion, an essay, answering questions in class…